Spring assembly

ABSTRACT

A box spring assembly including a frame having a pair of opposite and generally parallel extremities interconnected by ends with a plurality of spring members extending between the extremities, Each spring member is defined by an integral wire having parallel and spaced fishmouth sections interconnected by a generally U-shaped support section. The fishmouth sections are interconnected at the lower ends thereof to the extremities of the frame with the U-shaped sections of pairs of spring members being disposed in overlapping relationship with the base portions of the U-shaped sections being connected to a border wire.

United States Patent John J. Bond [72] Inventor Wickenburg, Ariz. [2]] Appl. No. 868,301 [22] Filed Oct. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee Lear Siegler, Inc.

Santa Monica, Calif.

[54] SPRING ASSEMBLY 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 267/107, 5/247 [51] Int. Cl F161 3/00, A47c 23/02 [50] Field of Search 5/246, 247, 255; 267/106-108, 80

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,117,774 4/1964 lsaacs 5/246 X FOREIGN PATENTS 768,165 8/1934 France Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell AttorneyBarnard, McGlynn & Reising PATENTEDUBHZIHYI 3.612.505

INVliN'lUR.

I ATTORNEYS SPRING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a box spring assembly of the type utilized for supporting mattresses in beds.

Box spring assemblies normally include a wooden frame with a plurality of coil springs supported on the frame and enclosed in a fabric cover. Also, it is not per se new to utilize wire bent into various forms other than coil springs in box spring assemblies. Box spring assemblies utilizing form wire are shown in US. Pats. Nos. 134,430; 641,361; 2,818,104; 2,866,311; 2,829,880 and 3,286,281. These patents disclose an assembly wherein wire strips crisscross one another and are bent into sinuous form with the periphery of the assembly including sinuous strips forming V-shapes or fishmouths. Also shown is an assembly utilizing a plurality of spring wire elements which have a straight load-bearing section with fishmouths at each end and crisscrossing one another with the fishmouths disposed about the periphery of the assembly.

It is an object and feature of this invention to provide a box spring assembly including a plurality of spring members each of which is defined by an integral wire having parallel and spaced fishmouth sections interconnected by a generally U- shaped section with the U-shaped sections of spring members overlapping one another and the fishmouth sections connected to the frame to define an assembly which provides uniform downward deflection, adequate support, easy and fast assembly, less shifting of the components relative to the frame and with components which may be utilized to make box springs of various different widths.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one spring element of the assembly of the instant invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but showing two of the spring members of the instant invention disposed in overlapping relationship between the extremities of the frame of the box spring assembly.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a box spring assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 10.

The assembly includes a frame having two pairs of opposite and generally parallel extremities or sides 12 interconnected by ends 14. The frame is preferably made of wood and may include additional longitudinally extending wood members disposed between the sides 12, which longitudinally extending members are not shown.

Also included are a plurality of spring members extending between the extremities or sides 12 and each of which is generally indicated at 16. Each spring member 16 is defined by an integral length of wire having a circular cross section and defining parallel and spaced fishmouth sections interconnected by a generally U-shaped support section. Each U- shaped section includes a pair of spaced legs 18 interconnected by a base portion 20. Each of the spring members 16 is disposed in overlapping relationship with at least one other spring member 16 with the legs 18 of overlapping spring members being connected together by connection means comprising the clips 22.

The assembly also includes a border wire 24 connected to base portions of the spring members 16 and extending between the extremities or sides 12 above the ends of the frame. The border wire is connected to the base portions by clips 26 which are also included in the connection means.

The assembly also includes longitudinal wires 28 extending transversely to the legs 18 of the spring members 16. The longitudinal wires 28 are disposed in pairs which extend between the ends of the border wire 24 with one wire of each pair below the legs 18 and the other wire of each pair above the legs 18 and with clips 30 interconnecting each pair of wires 28. The ends of the longitudinally extending wires 28 are clipped to the border wire by the clips 31. The clips 30 and 31 are included in the connection means.

The fishmouth sections of each spring member each includes an end 32 and a first length 34 extending inwardly and upwardly from the extremities or sides 12 of the frame. A second length 36 extends upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the first length 34. A third length 38 extends upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the second length 36. The third length 38 extends upwardly at a steeper angle than the second length 36. The first and second lengths 34 and 36 are interconnected by a first arcuate portion 40 and the third length 38 is connected to one of the legs 18 by a second arcuate portion 42.

The assembly also includes attachment means comprising the tunnel-shaped elements 44 for attaching each of the fishmouths to the sides 12 of the frame. The ends 32 of the fishmouth sections of each spring member 16 extend toward one another and into the tunnel-shaped clips 44. Spring means comprising the helical springs 46 interconnect the lengths 34 of the fishmouth sections of each spring member 16 for retaining the ends 32 thereof in the tunnel-shaped clips 44.

There is also included a plurality of auxiliary singular fishmouth members 48 interconnecting the ends 14 of the frame and the ends of the border wire 24. The auxiliary fishmouth members 48 are connected to the frame by staples or the like and are connected to the border wire by clips.

It will be noted that the base portions 20 of the spring members 16 are connected to the border wire 24 and are disposed outwardly of the fishmouth sections of each spring member 16. In the embodiment illustrated, two spring members 116 are disposed in overlapping relationship so that the two fishmouths of one spring member 16 are disposed on one side of the assembly whereas the two fishmouths of the other spring member 16 are disposed on the opposite side of the assembly. If it is desirable to increase the width of the assembly, the spring members 16 may be disposed in threes by having the fishmouth sections of one spring member 16 being attached to a centrally disposed longitudinally extending member of the frame and the fishmouth sections of the other two spring members being disposed at the sides of the frame with the three spring members overlapping one another or with at least the middle spring member overlapping the other two spring members. In this manner, the degree of overlap can be adjusted to provide box spring assemblies of various different widths.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A spring assembly comprising; a frame having two pairs of opposite and generally parallel extremities interconnected by ends, a plurality of independent spring members extending between said extremities, each of said spring members defined by an integral length of wire having parallel and spaced fishmouth sections interconnected by a generally U-shaped support section, each of said fishmouth sections including one end of the length of wire thereof, each fishmouth section extending generally upwardly from said frame to said support section, attachment means attaching each of said ends to said frame, and connection means interconnecting said spring members.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped sections include a pair of spaced legs interconnected by base portions, each of said spring members being disposed in overlapping relationship with at least one other spring member with the legs of overlapping spring members being connected together by said connection means.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a border wire connected by said connection means to at least some of said base portions of said spring members and extending between said extremities above said ends of said frame.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including longitudinal wires extending transversely to said legs of said spring membets.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said fishmouth sections includes, a first length extending inwardly and upwardly from said end and said frame, a second length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said first length, a. third length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said second length, said third length extending upwardly at a steeper angle than said second length.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second lengths are interconnected by a first arcuate portion,

and said third length is connected to one of said legs by a I dinal wires include at least one pair of wires extending between the ends of said border wire with one wire of each pair below said legs and the other wire of each pair above said legs with said connection means interconnecting each pair of said wires.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the base portions connected to said border wire are disposed outwardly of said fishmouth sections.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a plurality of auxiliary fishmouth members interconnecting the ends of said frame and the ends of said border wire.

11. A spring member comprising an integral wire including a fishmouth section and a straight section extending therefrom; said fishmouth section having an end, a first length extending inwardly and upwardly in the direction of said straight section from said end, a second length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said first length, a third length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said second length, said third length extending upwardly at a steeper angle than said second length.

12. A spring member as set forth in claim ll wherein said first and second lengths are interconnected by a first arcuate portion and said third length and said straight section are interconnected by a second arcuate portion. 

1. A spring assembly comprising; a frame having two pairs of opposite and generally parallel extremities interconnected by ends, a plurality of independent spring members extending between said extremities, each of said spring members defined by an integral length of wire having parallel and spaced fishmouth sections interconnected by a generally U-shaped support section, each of said fishmouth sections including one end of the length of wire thereof, each fishmouth section extending generally upwardly from said frame to said support section, attachment means attaching each of said ends to said frame, and connection means interconnecting said spring members.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped sections include a pair of spaced legs interconnected by base portions, each of said spring members being disposed in overlapping relationship with at least one other spring member with the legs of overlapping spring members being connected together by said connection means.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a border wire connected by said connection means to at least some of said base portions of said spring members and extending between said extremities above said ends of said frame.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including longitudinal wires extending transversely to said legs of said spring members.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said fishmouth sections includes, a first length extending inwardly and upwardly from said end and said frame, a second length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said first length, a third length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said second length, said third length extending upwardly at a steeper angle than said second length.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second lengths are interconnected by a first arcuate portion, and said third length is connected to one of said legs by a second arcuate portion.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ends of said fishmouth sections of each spring member extend toward one another and into said attachment means, and spring means interconnecting the fishmouth sections of each spring member for retaining said ends thereof in said attachment means.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said longitudinal wires include at least one pair of wires extending between the ends of said border wire with one wire of each pair below said legs and the other wire of each pair above said legs with said connection means interconnecting each pair of said wires.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the base portions connected to said border wire are disposed outwardly of said fishmouth sections.
 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a plurality of auxiliary fishmouth members interconnecting the ends of said frame and the ends of said border wire.
 11. A spring member comprising an integral wire including a fishmouth section and a straight section extending therefrom; said fishmouth section having an end, a first length extending inwardly and upwardly in the direction of said straight section from said end, a second length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said first length, a third length extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said second length, said third length extending upwardly at a steeper angle than said second length.
 12. A spring member as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first and second lengths are interconnected by a first arcuate portion and said third length and said straight section are interconnected by a second arcuate portion. 